The season for Manchester United finishes today.They could win the FA Cup final when they play Manchester City, their nosy neighbours, capping an absolutely awful campaign.
But this isn’t just a game to win prizes; it’s almost a given that this will be Erik ten Hag’s final game as manager.
Sadly, history isn’t exactly on his side; he lost in a similar situation the previous season.
United is undoubtedly the underdog, but one player, who will replace Amad Diallo in the starting lineup, has the potential to send Ducthman packing.
Why Amad Diallo drops out of the side
There is just one way to look at it: In recent weeks, Amad has emerged as one of United’s most important players.
For the first time in his career, the number 16 started three straight Premier League games. Against Newcastle United, he scored and provided an assist in one of those games.
Though it’s unfortunate that a preseason injury derailed most of his season, in his nine league games, he has at last displayed his talent. The United supporters will be hoping to see Ten Hag’s crafty winger play right away, and he will like his chances of starting today.
However, one player needs to return, which means the 21-year-old is forced off the team.
Why Marcus Rashford has to be unleashed by Ten Hag
Marcus Rashford was hailed as a “future legend” of Man United by football scout Jacek Kulig just three years ago, but he is now maybe the most maligned player on the team.
The hope was that the number ten would improve even more from his 30 goals in all competitions the previous season, or at least reach comparable stats.
Though he’s sadly performed far less well this time around, scoring only seven goals in 26 Premier League starts, his contribution against City could be crucial.
It’s expected that the proceedings could follow a similar pattern to United’s 4-3 victory over Liverpool in the FA Cup match, where Rashford was a threat throughout.
| Rashford vs Liverpool Stats | |
|---|---|
| Stats | Rashford |
| Goals | 1 |
| Key passes | 5 |
| Shots | 4 |
| Big chances created | 2 |
| Pass accuracy | 90% |
| Via Sofascore | |
Pep Guardiola’s team will almost certainly control the ball for the most of the game and the attacking stats, starting perhaps in the first minute.
As a result, United’s sole chance of happiness in the last third will come from counterattacking, which is precisely the situation in which the 26-year-old excels, as evidenced by his statistics against Liverpool.
Due to his tendency to come short of the ball, Amad’s participation would make Ten Hag’s team more vulnerable to pressure.
In contrast, the left-winger’s speed in behind will provide United an out-ball. Rashford can also conjure up a magical moment out of nothing, something Man City is all too aware with—they have already experienced his brilliance at the Etihad this season.
To conclude, Rashford has a point to prove, and there’s no better platform than Wembley Stadium to prove why he’s still one of the best forwards in Europe, especially with his exclusion from the England squad on his mind.
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